The word came fast and spread like wildfire yesterday: B&B Theatre’s Sapulpa Cinema 8 was closing up for renovations. The headlining new feature? Wider, reclining seats.
The more comfortable seating is becoming commonplace in a world where theaters are fighting dwindling attendance at the hands of digital downloads. B&B Theatres promises that the new seating is just one of the new perks coming to the theater. In a Facebook post, B&B Sapulpa said plans also included installing self-serve soda fountains and butter machines, which should make for shorter lines at the concession stands.
And no, the new amenities will not mean an increase in ticket prices, Sapulpa Times was told via Facebook Messenger yesterday.
These changes are part of a larger, corporate-sized operational overhaul which involved the installation of a new point-of-sale system that streamlines the purchasing process and the introduction of a loyalty program called “Backstage Pass” that rewards customers for every dollar spent.
Bob Bagby, President of B&B Theatres, said “I am pleased that we are able to make this happen for our guests and movie-lovers in Sapulpa. We are thrilled to bring a state-of-the-art, first class movie-going experience to our guests, and they will be blown away by our luxury reclining seats and we can’t wait to show you the “new” B&B”.
As of this release, B&B had not responded back to the question about when they would reopen.
Company History
B&B Theatres has been family-owned and operated since 1924 when Elmer Bills Sr. opened a movie house in Salisbury, Missouri where the future Mrs. Bills played the piano for silent movies. During the company’s 93 years, and four generations of family involvement, it has seen the coming of sound, color, Technicolor, stadium seating, multiplexes, and now digital cinema.
B&B Theatres is the 7th-largest theatre chain in North America and operates 400 screens at 50 locations in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Mississippi, and Florida.
